NCUCC MEETING MINUTES
July 10, 2001
Hosted by:  TELICS
Location:  CP&L Western Region Office
                                                                                                                 Asheville, NC
 
1.                  Call to Order – meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Keith Reid.  Keith thanked TELICS for hosting the meeting and CP&L for providing the meeting location.
 
2.                  Old Business
a.                   Treasurer’s Report – Wiley Cruise reported the account balance for the NCUCC as of May 31, 2001 is $1,522.25.  There are no outstanding expenses or checks.
b.                  Next Meeting  - the next meeting will be hosted by CP&L in Wilmington.  Dick Carter invited everyone to attend the SCUCC meeting on Friday, August 17 in Conway, SC.  Please call Dick at (800) 752-7508, ext. 6321 for directions or more information regarding the meeting.
c.                   Committee Reports – no committee reports at this time.
 
3.                  New Business
a.                   Volunteers for 2002 Joint Seminar Committee – Keith Reid suggested a listing of subcommittees for the Joint Seminar and asked for volunteers to chair these subcommittees.  They are as follows:
 
- Site and contract                    Paulette Warren
                                                Debbie Sherrod
- Vendors                                 Bill Deal
- Speakers/programs                Alan Gray
                                                Steve Nichols
                                                Lola Ausby
- Program                                 Aydren Flowers
- Golf                                       Keith Reid
- Tours for spouses
- Registration/door prizes          George Glenn
Expenses
 
Dick Carter went over some of the history of the joint seminar and suggested a joint planning session with the SCUCC and also volunteered the SCUCC to assist with vendors, etc.
 
b.                  NCDOT - Aydren Flowers spoke of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).  The national right of way and utility part of AASHTO are having a national conference at the Renaissance Hotel April 21 – 25, 2001 in Asheville hosted by the NCDOT.  This meeting is open to all utilities.  Aydren also informed us the TIP’s are available.  He asked we use these books for programming and planning future construction projects.  The NCDOT is starting to use the design build project concept.  They give the project to a design firm which includes buying rights of way and coordinating utility relocations.  South Carolina has been using this concept for years with mixed reviews.  The Knightdale bypass in Wake County will be the first major project worked using the design build method.  Aydren also stated the NCDOT will be doing at least as much road construction as last year and that the highway budget has not been impacted by the Federal budget cuts.  Aydren also mentioned there is a lot of information on the NCDOT website (www.doh.dot.state.nc.us) which includes TIPS, tentative lettings,  electronic forms and NCDOT directory and other listings.
c.                   One Call Center – Through June, the NC One Call Center has taken 580,004 locate requests and sent out 3,808,027 notifications to its members.  This is an 11.5% and 9.2% reduction compared to last year.  The primary reasons for this is the change from 10 days to 15 for the term of a locate and the improvements being realized by the new mapping system.  There are currently 245 members of the NC One Call Center.  The next meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for July 20, 2001 at Etowah Golf and Country Club, Etowah, NC.  Everyone is invited to attend.
d.                  Power Companies – Lola Ausby reported there is a reduction of new entrants into the telecommunication business. Larry Morris (Duke) suggested that companies work together to get transfers done which included getting old poles pulled and out of the way of the road relocation projects.  Larry also suggested at the next meeting we look at forming a subcommittee to look at this issue. Paulette Warren reported that Mike Roberts with Dominion Power does NJUNS training for anyone nationwide that wishes to attend classes in Virginia.  Mike’s phone number is 804-755-5350.  The National Joint Utilities Notification system, NJUNS, is a national organization of member utilities formed for the purpose of improving the coordination of joint ventures.  Our system offers utility companies a method of obtaining up-to-date information on a variety of shared concerns, including Pole Transfers, Joint Trenching & Permits for New Attachments to Poles. See www.NJUNS.com.
e.                   Gas Companies – Dick Carter with Piedmont Natural Gas informed us of two system strengthening projects in North Carolina.  Robert Sutton with NCNG told us about a transmission project starting at Elizabeth City and going to Wilmington.  He also stated there were right of way issues going on with the Whiteville and Tabor City projects.  Dick Carter said he had found some NC law stating if landowner has previously been paid for right of way that they do not have to be paid again.
f.                    Telecommunication companies – no attendance
g.                   CATV – no attendance
h.                   Contractors – Alan Gray talked quickly about the yearly training book coming out next month.  Also the AGC has on staff a bilingual trainer going to the field and he is also a former OSHA inspector.  This is a progressive training program on damage prevention stressing “Dig Safely”.  Alan also informed us that the Common Ground Alliance Damage Prevention Seminar is scheduled for November in Dallas.  See www.commongroundalliance.com for more information.  Alan also reminded us this is Wiley Cruise’s last meeting before retirement.  Amy Marino is taking Wiley’s place in the Western part of the state.  Good luck Wiley.  We will miss you.
i.                     Railroads – no attendance
j.                    Locate companies – no attendance
k.                  Local UCC’s –  Asheville UCC joined us for lunch and had a short business meeting.
 
4.                  Program – Utility Coordination by TELICS – Gary Cauble presented a very informative program on how TELICS initially started working with CATV’s and branched out to power, telecommunication and utility coordination. There are three phases of utility coordination services.  These phases are planning, designing and construction. TELICS offers services to help customers keep costs down, complete projects in a timely manner and enhance customer satisfaction of all the parties involved with communication being the key to the success of a project.
 
5.                  Meeting adjourned at 12:00
 
6.                  Lunch – lunch provided by TELICS (Monte Vista Hotel catered).  It was great!
 
 
Directions to next meeting in Wilmington
The next meeting is Tuesday, September 11 in Wilmington.
 
From I-40:  Interstate 40 runs into Hwy 132 (College Rd) continue South through Wilm.  When going through the Oleander Drive intersection, get into the far right lane and bear right onto Shipyard Blvd (Follow the State Port Sign).  At the intersection of Shipyard Blvd and Carolina Beach Rd (Hwy 421) turn left, then at the next stop light turn right onto Raleigh St.  We are apx. .2 Ml. down Rd. on the left.
 
From Hwy 74/76/17: Over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, take the State Port exit on Rt. off bridge, merge onto traffic, go over R/R Tracks and bear left at first Traffic Light onto Carolina Beach Rd.  Continue South, go through light at Shipyard Blvd. and turn Right at next light onto Raleigh St.